Door-locking device with improved safety module

Abstract

A door-locking device for a household appliance, such as a washing machine, a dishwasher and the like, of the type having a door, with a lug, wherein the door-locking device comprises a slider arranged so as to assume a disengagement and an engagement position with the lug of the household appliance door, a detection and safety module.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A door-locking device for a household appliance of the type having a door, with a lug, wherein said door-locking device comprises:
 (a) a slider arranged so as to assume a disengagement and an engagement position with the lug of the household appliance door, and 
 (b) a detection and safety module, comprising:
 (i) a main conductive plate, 
 (ii) a locking pin configured to assume a retracted position, and an extracted position, wherein the locking pin engages with said slider when it is in said engagement position, 
 (iii) a main switch, arranged on said main plate, so as to be opened when said locking pin is in said retracted position, and to be closed when said locking pin is in said extracted position, wherein when said main switch is closed indicates that the slider is locked by said locking pin in said engagement position, 
 (iv) a sensor switch, arranged in series with said main switch, for indicating, when it is closed, that said slider is in said engagement position, and 
 (v) a safety pin that comprises a body of cylindrical shape having an axis of symmetry that is perpendicular to the slider, a lower base and an upper base, wherein the safety pin interferes with said slider so that, when said slider moves from said disengagement position to said engagement position, said safety pin closes said sensor switch, 
 
 wherein said main conducting plate is fixed to said locking pin, so that when said locking pin is in said retracted position, said main conductive plate is in a first position, instead, when said locking pin is in said extracted position, said main conductive plate is in a second position, and 
 wherein said safety pin comprises:
 a lower rotational relief arranged on said lower base of the safety pin, wherein the lower rotational relief is eccentrically arranged with respect to the axis of symmetry of the safety pin, wherein when said slider interferes with said lower relief, the slider rotates said safety pin, and 
 a flap arranged in correspondence with the upper base of the safety pin so that, when said safety pin rotates, the flap interferes with said main conductive plate, 
 
 wherein the rotation of said safety pin changes according to the position of said main conductive plate. 
 
     
     
       2. The door-locking device according to  claim 1 , wherein said slider comprises a safety relief which interferes with said lower relief when said slider moves from said disengagement position to said engagement position. 
     
     
       3. The door-locking device according to  claim 1 , wherein said safety pin comprises a second rotational relief eccentrically arranged with respect to said axis of symmetry. 
     
     
       4. The door-locking device according to  claim 1 , comprising an elastic lamella arranged so as to interfere with an upper relief of said safety pin, wherein said sensor switch comprises said main plate and said elastic lamella. 
     
     
       5. The door-locking device according to  claim 4 , wherein said upper relief is configured to raise or lower said elastic lamella. 
     
     
       6. The door-locking device according to  claim 1 , wherein said slider has an opening, arranged so that, when said slider is in said engagement position, said opening in arranged in correspondence with said locking pin, allowing the movement of said locking pin from said retracted position to said extracted position. 
     
     
       7. The door-locking device according to  claim 1 , wherein the the door locking device is part of a washing machine or a dishwasher.